Body parts man's face reconstructed

Police investigating the killing of a man whose dismembered body was found in five countryside spots are making a model of his face to try to identify him.

Officers leading the inquiry said they hoped a clay reconstruction of the victim's face would provide the breakthrough in efforts to find out who he, and his killer, is.

The man's torso, right arm and upper left arm were found in a ditch at the weekend, the latest in a series of grisly discoveries across Leicestershire and Hertfordshire.

Police believe the killer, or killers, drove several hundred miles across the two counties dumping body parts along the way.

Detective Chief Inspector Michael Hanlon - who described the case as "one of the most horrific" he had dealt with - said the victim was killed with a large knife driven into his back, piercing his body cavity and causing a fatal wound.

It is now believed the man was aged between his mid-40s and early 60s, large, and weighed between 16 and 17 stone.

Mr Hanlon said: "It is a very exceptional crime, not just an exceptional crime in Hertfordshire, but the UK as a whole. Quite lengthy steps have been taken to prevent us identifying who the victim is. It is certainly one of the most horrific cases I have dealt with just by the nature of it. Fortunately, it is extremely rare that we have to deal with such a crime where individuals have been dismembered.

"I need the assistance of the public to help us identify who the victim is. Once I have that identity, that opens up a large number of lines to identify who the perpetrators are."

Anyone with information relating to body parts found in Hertfordshire should call 0845 3300222. Anyone with information about the head found in Leicestershire should call 0116 2222222.